Democratic lawmakers have a problem with President-elect Donald Trump's timing.
Three of Trump's cabinet nominees will face grilling in front of congressional panels Wednesday, the same day Trump will hold his first press conference since last summer. Democrats fear Trump's appearance in front of the media — during which he is expected to talk about how he plans to distance himself from his business empire while in office — could overshadow the cabinet hearings, therefore taking the spotlight off them.
"It's a very strong concern because the hearings are the opportunity to allow the American people to learn about the nominees," Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin said, reports the Washington Examiner.
"Most of them have not yet completed furnishing their financial disclosures."
Added Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota: "Yeah, I would much prefer they'd be spread out. In addition to them all being scrunched into one day, you have all the concerns that we don't have all the information yet."
The most number of Cabinet hearings held in one day is six, which occurred in the weeks before former President George W. Bush took office in 2001, the Examiner reports.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general, faced questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. His hearing will extend into Wednesday.
Also to be questioned Wednesday are Rex Tillerson for secretary of state and Elaine Chao for secretary of transportation. Rep. Mike Pompeo, Trump's choice to lead the CIA, was scheduled to have a hearing Wednesday but it was pushed back to Thursday.
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